INFINITY.

With 2007 only hours away from being officially over, both Lilinoe and I agree that it was a year of new beginnings, unexpected opportunities, and most importantly put closure to many issues we each begrudgingly carried year after year. The following is a summary of our 2007:

JANUARY:

We rang in 2007 exactly the same way we will 2008, on the island of Maui. My sister and her family live in Lahaina, and since we had such a good time, we decided to make it a tradition.

FEBRUARY:

Knowing that a solid foundation is a key ingredient to contributing to a stable and healthy environment, realizing that our friendship is progressing and growing to one of complete trust and appreciation, and after several hours of vulnerable discussions, Lilinoe and I decide to “shack up”…err, co-habitate, effective March 1, 2007.

MARCH:

After more than a decade away from the sport, I made a commitment to coach 9-10 year old girls in a youth basketball league with one of my father’s former players. I was practically raised on the hardwood floor, and my life choices had led me away accepting that any accolades achieved were simply appreciated as something of the past. In other words, I wasn’t drinking beer in a friend’s garage talking about how great we were in the good ol’ eighties. Besides, basketball had evolved and so had the dynamics of competitive sports altogether.

These days, parents are grooming their children for the collegiate level at this age, and I certainly did not want any part of this progress, but I had a plan. Teach the players the fundamentals of basketball, team concept, and representing themselves to the best of their capabilities, and if we happen to win a couple of games, great. The league gave us an appropriate team name, “Shock” because after starting the season at 5-0 many of the veterans were asking, “Who are the new coaches?” I’ll add that my friend, whom is really a long-time family friend had been out of the game longer than I had, and by trade was a Kumu hula. So, our players were coordinated in not only uniform, but hairstyle and all of the plays were in Hawaiian. We ended our season tied for second place, but it was the friendships that I built with the parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and of course the players that are bringing me back for another season.

APRIL:

We received a letter from the Kamehameha Schools informing us that Jayden has been accepted into the preschool. We are filled with gratitude, and humbled for the opportunity. Now, our only goal “perfect the potty training!” For a few months we had been working with Jayden, making the transition from pull-ups to underwear as seamless as possible, but I’ll admit the process was testing the limits of my patience. But, the day we shared the letter from Kamehameha Schools with Jayden, he was “instantly” potty trained. No more overnight accidents or debates of preferring to wear a pull-up instead of underwear. Both Lilinoe and I realized that attending school was important enough for Jayden to understand that he had to be potty-trained.

MAY:

Our basketball season ended at the end of the month, and I wondered how I would keep myself occupied.

JUNE:

A week of searching for a new hobby, I read an article that would introduce me to a virtual new world, social media and networking. Of course I had subscribed to the insanity of MySpace.com so I was well aware of social networking sites, however I wasn’t too keen of the evolution of the ‘net. I read ’bout the phenom of user generated content like Digg, and would read but never participated in web forums, and blogging seemed too intimate for me to ever consider. I sort of chuckle when I realize how close minded I was, yet open to at the very least discovering what was new and interesting on the world wide web.

JULY:

I dove head first into the sea of social media and networking, and added my email address and profile to every networking site available like Twitter, HawaiiThreads and Ustream, and more. No one from my MySpace list of friends would consider migrating to anything else, and my real life circle of humans rarely checked their email accounts so I was literally “cold call” networking.

AUGUST:

As the first day of school for Jayden nears, I have a mild anxiety attack of concern for his safety while not in my presence, of course it passes, but I shocked my usually calm self. Also, INFINITY blog is born and the NEW STEPS series begins documenting Jayden’s first experiences at Kamehameha School.

SEPTEMBER:

It’s been six-month’s since the decision to “shack-up” and all is well in our household. Our dear friends Heather Pantohan and Bishop Vincent are married in a very intimate ceremony at the Okinawan Center garden. The reception was emceed by local comedian Rodney Villanueva, and an excellent jazz ensemble serenaded throughout the evening.

OCTOBER:

I add a new word to my vocabulary, Truemors and have the opportunity to meet a true celebrity in the technology industry, Guy Kawasaki. Our very brief conversation, and occasional online exchanges provides an opportunity for me to be donned, Truemorist.

NOVEMBER:

As I shared previously, I moved to Maui while Lilinoe and the children continued to live on Oahu. It’s a temporary move, and Skype is so much better than a casual telephone conversation. The University of Hawaii football team ends their season as the only unbeaten Division I team and an invitation to the Sugar Bowl. Not to mention quarterback Colt Brennan got an official nod as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

DECEMBER:

Our resolution was simple, to have a better year than 2006 and looking back we can honestly say that we’ve accomplished our goal. We leave 2007 with gratitude for the opportunities, moments, and knowledge. We look forward to the promises of 2008 and the launching of our new website: www.FALEAFINE.com.

This is the last day of 2007 and last post of INFINTY.

All the best to all of you in 2008.

All of you know that I am a willing slave to social media and networking, and many of you wonder either why I do it or how I balance it all. Balancing my everyday life with my everyday passion requires organization (something that continues to challenge me, but finding dependable tools as I paddle my canoe forward), commitment, and the support of those involved. Today, it’s the support that is the answer to my “why” because “why I do it” changes from time to time as I learn and grow, but let’s focus on support.

I belong to the Twitter community, and one of my neighbors, Susan Reynolds recently shared her diagnosis of breast cancer. The “C-word” of disease is as filthy as the “other” c-word, but the more triumphant c-word is “community.” In her blog, “Boobs On Ice” Susan described that the only comfort she found after being poked and poked s’more, was placing a bag of frozen peas near her bosom. The Twitter community rallied in support of Susan, and began adding “peas” to their avatars, hence my head in a bowl of peas above. One avatar led to over 100 which of course evolved into a Frozen Pea Friday group on Flickr. From there the community exploded fueled by its tech savvy talent, sincere souls, and determination not to appease cancer the Frozen Pea Fund was created.

Beginning today and every Friday through October 2008, the Frozen Pea Fund will be raising money for Making Strides the breast cancer campaign of the American Cancer Society. Be a part of the community, the PEAple community.

The last few nights have been quite restless, I’ve been actively solving CSI type crimes in my dreams that leave me a bit more exhausted the next morning. This morning is no different, and since it’s been a few nights in a row, I’m on the verge of transforming into Oscar the Grouch. I know myself well enough to halt the transformation: long shower to get the blood flowing, avoid rushing, an ice cold can of Coca Cola, and solitude. As I waltzed into my office a half an hour earlier than scheduled, I could feel it was going to be a long day.

As I routinely do, I booted up my laptop to check my email. I skimmed through the e-newsletters I receive from all of the social networks I insanely registered for but rarely use. There was one though that I had to read twice, not because it wasn’t well-written, but what it said:

“Just a quick update on the competition you entered with fuelmyblog. We are pleased to announce that you won a copy of Microsoft Expression Web!”

I submitted my post, “FuelMyBlog With Microsoft Expression” and I won! It was my first “blog competition” and probably my first individual writing competition. Immediately, the green of Oscar disappeared replaced by a smile wider than that of Elmo. Of course my first telephone call was to Lilinoe and she was equally excited so much so she said this, “All of those hours you spend on the computer are starting to pay off!” Err…hah? Actually, I know what she means.

• July 2007: Ryan Ozawa accepted my “application” to host INFINITY blog on HawaiiStories.com. I’m just kidding, there wasn’t a formal application, but I do recall sending an email as to how I would contribute to his website.

• October 2007: Guy Kawasaki offered me an opportunity to be a Truemorist on his website, Truemors.com. Visit Truemors, you’ll find a delicious variety of news and information. And, if you’re wondering, yes, I’m “InfinityPro.”

• November 2007: Evelyn author of Homespun Honolulu has graciously accepted my submission to the “Carnival of Aloha” for a second month. Her presentations each month combined with my vivid imagination truly make it a carnival experience.

• December 2007: HawaiiStories.com still hosts INFINITY blog, “InfinityPro” is a faithful Truemorist, the Carnival of Aloha featured my post “Laughter” and I have won my first blog competition at FuelMyBlog.com.

These small accomplishments are humongous in my eyes, and though my words express gratitude and humility, the opportunities afforded me are evidence that it’s also in my soul.

Social media is defined in Wikipedia as the “democratization of information, transforming people from content readers into content publishers. It is the shift from a broadcast mechanism to a many-to-many model, rooted in conversations between authors, people, and peers”.

Social network is defined in Wikipedia as “a social structure made of nodes (which are generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as values, vision, idea, exchange, friends, kinship, dislike, conflict, trade, web links, sexual relations, disease transmission (epidemiology), or airline routes”.

And here’s the definition of both according to NEENZ: Social media are the parts of my soul shared with the world, and if it stirs another individual in any way it’s synergistic.

For nearly six months I’ve been religiously feeding my social media/networking addiction, and the more I learn about the different sites, the more I learn about myself. In the beginning, as with everything I do, it’s with a “mind wide-open” approach, otherwise how do you reap the full benefits of anything with a closed mind? And then, perhaps it’s just the “diva” in me, I have to try on everything, before I realize the clothing store doesn’t even carry my size.

The first thing I learned is that it’s about “people” on several different levels. A social networking site cannot work if it does not have the users. The ones who are living and breathing and actually participating; and not the users who have the smarts to automate, but not the smarts to participate.

Second, you must be able to relate to the living and breathing people participating on the social networking site. I still have an account with MySpace, but long ago I realized the site no longer had my attention.

The next thing I learned is that my real life rule of simplicity carried over into my social media/networking habits. The social networking sites needed to be simple to keep my attention. From registration, to customization, to application all simple. But, simple for me means convenient too. In Hawaii my home is centrally located to everything; the mall, gas station, movies, beach, work, schools, my parents are all literally between 2-20 minutes away.

With using my definition and preferences of “people” and “simplicity” I’ve narrowed my palate of sites:

• Twitter: Registration and customization are simple, and is available for use via SMS on your mobile phone. Without being logged in to the site, I can text to Twitter “what I am doing” and if I receive a reply I will be notified via text message as well. Each post is strictly limited to 140 characters, and depending on “what you’re doing” it could be a positive or a negative.

• UTTERZ: Don’t want to type or text, pick up your phone (any phone) and utter a post. This site captures all of my simple needs. I can upload either a video, text message, photo or voice to UTTERZ and then have it set-up to cross post to Twitter or INFINITY.

• TRUEMORS: A plethora of news all in one site, promised at no more than 340 characters. Simple.

• HawaiiThreads: If you’re anxious to join, you may require patience in order to begin posting, but if you’re like me, you’ll persistently email the Administration. This forum is organized, easy to follow, and really a lot of fun if you’re not a “troll”.

Finally, this post would not be complete without mentioning the people who make the different social networking sites comfortable and fun. And, really for me, it’s all about the fun of participating.

• Ryan Ozawa: I’ve mentioned him before and he’s worth mentioning any time I talk about social media and networking. I credit Ryan with instigating my curiosity in social media, and also for feeding my addiction for social networking in a healthy way. But, his true worth is his generosity of his knowledge.

• Guy Kawasaki: He too has been mentioned in previous posts, especially since he’s the first person from my virtual world to collide with my real one. I “found” this famous Guy on Twitter, and some have complained that he doesn’t “participate” enough, but I say they just want his individual attention. Guy has blessed me and my family, and I don’t think he’s realized that until now. How’s that for some individual attention!

• Chris Brogan: If you really want the nuts and bolts of social media and social networking, you need to be in touch with Chris. A social media and social network expert, he’s currently in the process of writing his next 100 posts dedicated to teaching others about the value of social media/network and more importantly the value of your efforts.

There are a lot more people that have created this synergy for me, but in order to fully understand you need to get involved and participate yourself. Each person’s experience have but few similarities since we’re all different people, different souls.

Life has taken an amazingly different turn during the last handful of months, and I’m cautiously blissful. Most of you know that I began blogging only recently as a commitment to being true to myself. Maintaining INFINTY has been more than just a hobby, it’s become a therapeutic passion. I escape into the “Mind of NEENZ” and there, I am the supreme ruler, well I am the only one who exists, along with the memories of my experiences and thoughts. I am comfortable there because it’s familiar, however a sense of vulnerability appears after I click “publish.”

With uncontrollable changes in my professional life I have decided to return to college the same year that I’m celebrating my 20th high school reunion. I feel strangely more prepared to tackle the challenge then I ever did, am I finally all grown up? An aspiring geek I chose to focus on Digital Media Production. DMP incorporates not only lessons in design, but it’s also something I enjoy learning more about and I could finally have a career that I love.

I discovered my love for design and media just as I discovered my soulmate, serendipity. Self-taught, and in real need of professional instruction, I dabbled in the basic Adobe and what I consider an upgrade, to a Corel program. For over a year I’ve been enlisted to create basic print designs of invitations and promotional items.

I’ve recently joined a global blog community, FuelMyBlog which is basically a network of bloggers for bloggers; promoting, critiquing, and supporting one another. One of the benefits I immediately received was news about Microsoft Expression Web. The “in crowd” is all-a-buzz about Apple this and Mac that, and while I’m envious I’m also unfamiliar and realistically unable to afford those toys. Microsoft programs have gained my satisfaction, and I’m confident Microsoft Expression Web will satisfy my design cravings. And, as I mentioned earlier in this post that my life has taken an amazing turn, FuelMyBlog is having a contest to win a copy of Microsoft Expression Web!

If you like this post, then please

“is the first way you can instantly blog your experiences, thoughts and ideas, anywhere, using all the capabilities of your mobile phone.”

A few months ago I created an UTTERZ account, mostly to feed the geek within, but also because I intended on using it. Social networking sites post-MySpace have made it easier to post your thoughts on-the-go via your mobile phone.

I hesitate to utilize the voice portion of UTTERZ, well because I strive for perfection. I would rather type it out, proofread and edit and read it as a script; but that would defeat its designed purpose.

One of the most appealing features for me is that I don’t have to convince a whole bunch of my family and friends to migrate over to UTTERZ. I’ve set-up a widget in the sidebar and with a click you can ‘hear’ what I have to say for the day. I figured, it will not only allow me to get more thoughts out into the world, but it will definitely help with my annunciation and dictation.

I don’t promise to be eloquent or profound, but I do promise to be consistent. UTTERZ emails a daily topic, but if anyone has a suggestion on what you want me to utter, leave a comment and I’ll do my best to provide you more than my two cents!

Prior to the start of the current NFL season I joined the “HawaiiThreads: Yahoo! Sports Pro Football Pick ’Em.” The older I get, my interest in sports are reserved until the playoffs or the championship match. And so, joining this ‘tournament’ was purely for “virtual fun.” Lilinoe became interested, and as we do with nearly everything in our lives, we collaborated on a strategy.

It wasn’t very complicated, it consisted of choosing the teams that had players with ties to Hawaii on their rosters; Houston was automatic since I was a former resident; and Lilinoe will choose the New England Patriots each week only because she finds Tom Brady to be “cute.”

The strategy worked the first two weeks as we were able to accumulate 22 points (1 point per win) or 22 correct picks. We didn’t consider the point spread, home field advantage, injury lists, or anything other than the method mentioned above.

In Week 3 I decided to read a few lines of summarized predictions, and managed a low 5 points. In Week 4 I woke up with a bad attitude that left me home alone and only increased to 6 points. Determined to be back on track, I committed to a better attitude and included (begged) Lilinoe back into the selection process, and our points for the week increased to 8. And, I don’t know what happened during Week 6 as the point spread broke our spirit to an all time low of 4 points.

At the end of week 6 we amassed a total of 44 points and were in second place overall. Determined to improve, but having not a clue of the players’ abilities or coaching successes or even the teams’ records we enrolled our 3 year old son Jayden.

As I sat by the computer, I rattled off the names of two teams and he chose. Whatever his response we selected it on the screen. I admit that I was a bit unsure of the strategy, so I went through the list again, but this time by their respective mascots and his picks did not change. The only game we (Lilinoe) attempted to “change his mind about” was the New England vs. Miami (+16.5), but I defended his choice and we went with his selection of Miami.

The last game just ended a few minutes ago, and of the 13 games scheduled, we have 10 points or 10 correct picks! Amazing to say the least, but he should have listened to his Mommy since New England beat the spread!

Yesterday my virtual and real worlds collided, on purpose, and in the words of Martha Stewart, “It was a good thing.”

For about a month now I’ve been following Guy Kawasaki on Twitter, reading his posts from his website Truemors. Some of his posts were of interest, especially the odd news stories from ‘round the world. He also twittered about his passion for hockey, despite modestly assessing himself as an average and below player. He also boldly twittered about Truemors being labeled the worst website ever. And, I enjoyed his twitters of his ventures on his daughter’s camping trip.

The last week or so he’s been twittering about being in Hawaii, the island of Maui at first and I assumed he and his family were on vacation. He shared, via twitter, showing pictures of his children to his father, and I knew he was now on Oahu, but without family in tow. And, a few nights ago he posted that he had two more speaking engagements before flying home.

I thought to myself that I had to hear him, not because he was an Apple Fellow or had roots in Silicon Valley, but it was my opportunity to allow my worlds to collide, on purpose. You see, I’ve been reading about Podcamps, TechCrunch and DemoFall for the last few months, and am interested but limited by this thing called the Pacific Ocean, and well a budget. This was my opportunity to bring some reality into my virtual world.

I found myself at Honolulu Community College riding the elevator with another gentleman whom said, “Are you here for the STEM conference?” Umm…no, I’m here to listen to Guy Kawasaki. The gentleman replied, “Yes, the STEM conference.” Great, I wasn’t registered for this conference but I did have a “Get In Free” pass, well sort of. Guy had directed a private message to me the night before that read, “If you can’t get in, call me over and we’ll say you’re my bodyguard.”

Approaching the registration desk with a good attitude, and great smile, the lady graciously added me to the list without me even having to use my pass! I found myself sitting amongst a room of people from my parents’ generation, I felt very comfortable, but I’ll admit I wondered if any of them could identify with the guest speaker from Twitter or only from all of his other accomplishments.

Guy was a little more than awesome. He spoke my language: simple, quick, and honest. The topic was relevant, to me, and by the nodding, abrupt laughter, and roaring applaud; I’d say others felt the same as well. He was equally as kind when I introduced myself, and much taller than I had pictured or was it his shaggy, surfer hairdo?

Here are the things I took away from my experience:

• Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Leadership Conference was sponsored by the University of Hawaii College of Education with a goal of building a framework for action. It was an invite only conference which brought together the Board of Education, Department of Education, Department of Human Services, and other relevant related offices.

• “Make Meaning.” I don’t aim to change the world globally, but I focus locally and should it ripple into something larger then I have overachieved, which is perfectly fine in my book. I choose to participate in life, and as a participant I have a responsibility to leave footprints with dignity.

• “Don’t be afraid to polarize people.” I‘ve said this before that I‘ve accepted that “not everybody loves NEENZ,” and knowing this, creates a secure balance. And so, whether in my professional or personal life, I give all of myself genuinely, but I know that not everyone will accept me in the same manner. Part of the balance includes this percentage of people whom may not accept me, it allows me to spend more time and focus on those that do.

• Guy Kawasaki likes to use the word ‘crap.’ And let’s face it, he’s right. Don’t produce it, don’t sell it, don’t give it away. Unless of course, it’s “beta” crap.

I had wanted to ask Guy a few questions, an interview of sorts which would have made my other blog, “TRUEMORS: Get Local Ties” a bit more interesting, but he was overwhelmed by other attendees one of which was the current Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona. I shall be patient, besides with the available technology my interview is only a twitter away!

In social gatherings in Hawaii, a locally known “ice-breaker” has always been asking, “What school you went grad?” It’s flexible and can be used in many different situations to replace the more commonly known, “What’s your sign?” or “You from ‘round these neck of the woods?” In Hawaii, this one question will create a lengthy conversation that could possibly find you eventually related to someone you had just met.

Over the last few months I’ve been frequenting a website called “Truemors.com“. It’s a catchy name, but don’t equate it with a grocery store gossip rag, otherwise as they put it they would have named the site, “Truessips” which they’re not. As they explain on their site:

“The purpose of Truemors is to democratize and spread information. First, from “citizen journalist/editor” perspective it enables you to “tell the world”—within the bounds of good taste and the law anyway. Second, from a reader perspective, it puts you “in the know” about the latest news, rumors, and happenings, so that “you know better” without having to spend hours every day searching for information.”

Depending on your level of geek, I’m sure you’re thinking: blog, digg, del.icio.us; but they do have a ‘niche’. You don’t need a computer! Well, eventually you will especially if you want to read your work, but initially you don’t. Truemors.com offers four options to post a story, your story:

• Call 1-650-329-2020 and leave a voicemail. SpinVox will translate your voicemail to text and send it to Truemors.com in English, Spanish, French or German
• Text “2020 <whatever you want to post>” to 55022.
• Enter your message online.
• Send an email to post@truemors.com.

But, how does this relate to Hawaii? It’s simple, one of the founders of Truemors.com is Guy Kawasaki. Guy was born in Honolulu and raised in Kalihi Valley. He is a 1972 graduate of Iolani High School and a classmate of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Some of you may know that Mayor Hannemann is more commonly called, Uncle Mufi in my home which links Guy to me! Though we’re not related in the blood or marriage sense, the connection was made simply by knowing “what school he when grad?”

‘Eh truesto, no it’s “truemor” for reals kine!

New to the Web2.0 game, I’ve only recently been reading about the important role that social networking plays in building and maintaining not only a corporation, but a personal presence. One of the simplest forms of networking, is maintaining a web log or “blog”. Writing has always been a childhood passion, however I am now realizing that there are differences in blogging. Personal scribes can be deemed as “blogging” however it’s the content of your post that determines it’s distinction.

I’ve been keeping up with all three of my other “blogs” with each being distinguished as either a journal or a storytelling platform. I have found that maintaining these other three blogs have been relatively easy since I’m comfortable with the subject matter, me. It’s this blog that I hesitate to write, simply because my personality dictates that I be precise. But, encouraged by the community at HawaiiStories whom read my very first post, “TO THINE OWNSELF BE TRUE“, I shall, “Write On!”

My personality also dictates that I need to be mentally stimulated quite frequently. It doesn’t have to be complex, but something interesting, something new.

This is what Twitter is for me when people answer the simple question, “What Are You Doing?” Since posting my first twitter on July 25, 2007 I have accumulated 81 followers and am following 183 other members’ twitters. Some people will post exactly as the question asks and mention what they’re having for lunch. As mundane as this may seem to the outside (of the virtual) world, it was actually beneficial for me one day when I needed the name of a local bagel shop and one of those that I followed gave it to me with not only a recommendation of the quality of food, but the praise of the customer service.

There are power twitters: Jim Long, Chris Brogan, and the mother-of-all Robert Scoble whom follows as of today: 6,178 twitter members, and is being followed by 6,143 members! Should I ever reach this level of twittering, it would also mean that I’ve accomplished other personal goals of earning a degree from a certified higher institution, established a niche in the business market, and have more subscribers to my blogs than just my Mother!

Another mental stimulator for me has been the forum boards at HawaiiThreads. The topic threads are busy with everything from the controversial Superferry and go! Airlines to advice for things ranging from gadgets, moving to Hawaii, and prime secret parking spaces at the Waikiki Shell.

In addition to all of this, I religiously subscribe to hundreds of feeds to different blogs of interest. Some provide inspiration and direction while others are too brutally honest, and of course I enjoy the humors of a personal story.

If all of this blogging and interest in the ‘net lead to personal prosperity and no financial gain, then it still has its worth.